Cosmos Announce Potential Championship Final Venue

NEW YORK - The New York Cosmos today announced that should they advance to the 2016 Championship Final they would host the match on Sunday, November 13, 7 pm, ET at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John's University in Jamaica, Queens.

The Cosmos are the No. 1 overall seed in The Championship, the league's four-team postseason tournament, for the second consecutive year. The seven-time NASL champions begin their title defense hosting a Championship Semifinal match on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University.

"It's important for us to play in New York," said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. "That way the fans can be part of The Championship experience, and our players are rewarded for all their hard work by having the opportunity to play in front of family and friends."

Unbeaten at home in league play this year, the Cosmos posted a 14-2-0 (W-D-L) record in New York during their regular season, averaging a margin of victory of over two goals per game. They have played U.S. Open Cup matches at Belson Stadium each of the last three seasons, most recently against the Jersey Express and New England Revolution in June of this year.

Postseason ticket packages, which include the semifinal and potential final, will be on sale to the general public on Wednesday, November 2 at 2 pm, ET. Seating at Belson Stadium is limited, so fans interested in attending should call 855-71-COSMOS or visit nycosmos.com/tickets

About the Cosmos

The New York Cosmos are reigning champions of the North American Soccer League (NASL), having captured their second league title in three seasons and seventh overall on Nov. 15, 2015 with a 3-2 win over Ottawa Fury FC in The Championship Final at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium.

The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer to the USA. This included Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto. It had been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following.

On Aug. 3, 2013, the New York Cosmos returned to the NASL with a sellout win at Shuart Stadium, before embarking on a season that would see the Cosmos win the 2013 Soccer Bowl with a 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Nov. 9, 2013 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.

Raî=BAl and Marcos Senna, legends at famed Spanish sides Real Madrid and Villarreal CF, each suited up in Cosmos colors for modern era championship runs, adding their names to the impressive list of global soccer stars to feature at the club.

The Cosmos submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal in 2013 to the State of New York to build a world-class 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium at Belmont Park. More information about the proposal and renderings can be found at newcosmosstadium.com.